Who we are

Wool Source exists to commercialise and launch innovative new uses for New Zealand’s strong wool that are good for people and the planet.

We were founded by the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ) in 2021.
Our world-renowned Wool Industry Research team at Lincoln Agritech has worked in partnership with New Zealand’s wool growers, supply chain participants, the New Zealand Government and WRONZ over several years to develop the technology to revolutionise use of nature’s performance fibre.

Our connection
to WRONZ

WRONZ is a specialist wool research institution with over 50 years’ experience in world-leading keratin and fibre science.

It is an incorporated society with member companies from across the New Zealand wool sector. Members of WRONZ represent wool growers, processors, and every aspect of the value chain.

At Wool Source, we are taking the best of WRONZ’s research and commercialising it through intensive market engagement, so we can develop new processes and opportunities for wool.

Visit the WRONZ website

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Our purpose-built production site

To support Wool Source’s work, WRONZ built a purpose-built facility on the Lincoln University campus. This bespoke plant is designed to produce our wool pigments, powders, particles and cortex using our protected and patented processes.

This is where we validate and commercialise our revolutionary new products. Designed to prove the scalability of our new technology, this facility also provides initial manufacturing volumes and production scale materials for partner evaluation.

Robust quality management, security and health and safety measures are in place to ensure traceability and quality assurance, and the wellbeing of staff, contractors, and operators.

The facility has been designed to use low-carbon energy and is based in the growing agribusiness hub of Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand.

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Our People

Our experienced leadership is supported by our highly skilled research team and plant operators operating our purpose-built facility around the clock.

Tom Hooper

CEO

Tom has extensive experience in the commercialisation of research and working across both the public and private sectors. Having previously led high growth commercial entities in the UK and Europe he is now focused on bringing the New Uses for Strong Wool Programme through to ultimate commercial success.

Dr Rob Kelly

Chief Scientific Officer

Rob is building on his 25-year career developing commercial solutions using wool-based biopolymers to lead the Wool Source technical team. From a background in protein and keratin chemistry he has established from concept to launch the core functional technology inside a wide range of multinational-branded products in the personal care, nutritional, medical and industrial fields. This has been supported by 20 patent and 33 peer review scientific publications.

Nick Aubrey

Business Development Manager

Nick combines a family farming history with a career in connecting growers and New Zealand’s primary sector to commercial opportunities around the world. As a consultant, board director and business owner he has deep experience in taking innovative products to market and is committed to supporting New Zealand farmers.

Michelle Procter

Market Engagement Manager

Michelle has supported multiple businesses and entrepreneurs from concept to commercial launches working with business accelerators in New Zealand and Chile. She combines her mentoring experience with in-house retail and manufacturing management experience.

Renee Parsons

Marketing and Communications Manager

Renee is an award-winning communications specialist with nearly two decades’ experience working in New Zealand, UK and the US. Her career has spanned private, public and not-for-profit sectors, industries including technology, research and investment banking and organisations ranging from start-ups to multinationals.

Max Butler

Pilot Plant Manager

Max applies his process development engineering background to keeping Wool Source’s purpose-built plant facility running to a high standard. He is experienced in process control, pilot plant development and equipment operation for the production of nanofibre composite additives, and has a particular interest in the design, commissioning and optimisation of novel wool processing technologies.

Gail Krsinic

Wool Science Leader

Gail has over 30 years’ experience in the wool industry in New Zealand and her key research areas are in wool structure and wool processing. She is skilled in chromatography, analytical chemistry and scanning electron microscopy.

Tif Cameron

Office Manager

Tif makes things tick, managing freight logistics and office administration. Sending products and team members around the world and making sure processes run smoothly, she is an essential part of the team.